Raphael Varane injury: Man Utd star will be out of action for a ‘few weeks’

Raphael Varane will be out for a “few weeks” Manchester United confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

In a short statement, the club said: "Raphael Varane sustained a groin muscle injury in the UEFA Nations League final and has commenced rehabilitation at the club. He will be out for a few weeks."

The defender was on international duty with France when the problem occurred, with Les Bleus winning the Nations League final 2-1 thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.

Varane was replaced just before the half-time break in the encounter and is set to miss a significant run of fixtures for the Red Devils.

The former Real Madrid man will be unavailable for the trip to Leicester City on Saturday, as well as United’s games against Atalanta and Liverpool next week.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope Varane is fit in time for the club’s final game of the month, away to Tottenham Hotspur, before they face Atalanta again in the Champions League, followed four days later by the first Manchester derby of the season.

The injury to Varane adds to the ever-increasing pressure on Solskjaer, with skipper Harry Maguire also out with a calf problem. It means the Red Devils will likely line up with Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly in the coming games, a partnership which has not played together often despite both defenders representing United for the last four years.

Phil Jones and Teden Mengi are also options for United, while Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic have played in the heart of defence before. Luke Shaw has previously operated as the left centre-back in a three-man defence, and is another possibility in absence of Maguire and Varane.